Hantsport citizens get chance to vent

HANTSPORT — “No one is writing this town off,” Mayor Rob Zwicker proclaimed after a recent public meeting.

The meeting gave citizens an “opportunity to vent” while council deals with a $242,000 revenue shortfall caused by the closure of Minas Basin Pulp and Power Ltd, Zwicker said Friday.

To compound the situation, there will be an additional revenue loss of $75,000 when an tax agreement with Fundy Gypsum Co. ends next year.

“This was the initial discussion on how to proceed,” the mayor said.

More than 70 people attended Wednesday’s meeting.

“We wanted to point out to our residents that we have fixed costs like education, policing, debt services, water and sewer, etc.,” but still have to find a way to handle the $240,000 loss in revenue, Zwicker said.